We’ve come to Phuthaditjhaba in the high mountains near the border with Lesotho in what used to be called Qwa-Qwa. Nowadays, it’s part of the Free State. We’re here to run a free eye clinic for Reach4Sight, but it turns out to be an eye opener for us too.

In January when we visited the Golden Gate National Park the temperatures were nudging 30 degrees and the mountains were covered in a cloak of green velvet. Now, in July, things are very different indeed.

The tiny Richtersveld settlement of Lekkersing opened its arms to us by inviting us to the Fashion and Beauty Pageant at the local primary school. We didn’t expect the entertainment to last for four and a half hours – or to have quite so much fun as we did.

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I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.Since 2015, travel buddy and husband Keith has been the primary photographer for this blog.We're happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow.In this blog you can discover new places to go, revisit places you've loved, or take a virtual tour of destinations you only dream about.

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